Shoring device



L. S. GACHER SHORING DEVICE Sept. 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1964 IN VENTOR LOUIS S. GACHER BY SCHULZE, BLAIR 8: BENOIT ATTORNEYS L. S. GACHER- SHORING DEVICE Sept. 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filed March 31, 1964 INVBNTOR LOUIS S. GACHER BY SCHULZE, BLAIR 8 BENOIT ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,204,910 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 3,204,910 SHORING DEVICE Louis S. Gacher, 121 Davenport Drive, Stamford, Conn. Filed Mar. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 356,215 1 Claim. (Cl. 248354) This invention relates generally to shoring devices for boat hulls and more particularly to a permanent type of shoring device which may be adjusted for varying requirements.

When small boats in the pleasure boat class are brought into the yards for repair work and for winter storage they must be supported above ground by some type of shoring device. The average boatyard accomplished this through the use of lumber, normally scrap lumber which might be available about the yard. The need for locating lumber of the proper dimensions which will accomplish the shoring job requires a great deal of Wasted time and labor.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a permanent reusable shoring device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoring device which may be adjusted so as to be suit-able for use with various types and sizes of hulls.

A further object of this invention is to provide a permanent reusable shoring device which is economical to manufacture and extremely easy to use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred form of the invention in use with a boat hull;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one of the devices shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of a modification of the device illustrated in FIG. 2.

Turning now more specifically to the drawings there are shown in FIG. 1 two of the devices 17 and 19 of the present invention. These devices are identical and are used at diiferent points along the hull of the boat as required. Accordingly, a detailed description of only one of the devices will be given herein.

The boat hull 11 is maintained above transverse timbers 13 and 15 by means of a plurality of the shorting devices of the present invention.

Generally, the device consists of a base plate 21 mounted on the timber 13 with a channel formed thereon by Welding plates 27 thereto. An :angle iron could be used in place of the plates. A first pipe 31 is pivotally mounted between the plates 27 and extends upwardly therefrom. A second pipe 39, having a smaller diameter than pipe 31 is slidably fitted into the pipe 31.

Pipe 39 is also pivotally secured within an angle iron 51 which is welded to the upper face plate 49. Face plate 49 is secured to a block of material such as hardwood or plastic in order that there will be no damage to the hull of the boat while being supported by the present device. Braces 63 and 65 extend downwardly from pipe 39 and are secured thereto in a manner which will be explained more in detail in the discussion of FIG. 2. These brace members 63 and 65 are also secured to the timber 13.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the particular base plate 21 shown therein has a series of small apertures 23 therethrough so that the plate itself may be secured to the timber 13 by means such as nails 25.

Plates 27 are secured to the base plate by means such as Welding and have a set of boreholes 29 therethrough. The pipe 31 also has a set of boreholes 33 passing therethrough at the lower end thereof which may be mated with the holes 29 of the plates 27 so that a bolt 35 may be passed through both members and secured by means of the nut 37. The holes 29 in the plates 27 are high enough so as to permit a degree of rotation of the pipe 31 about bolt 35.

Pipe 39 is of a dimension such that it will fit within pipe 31 and may be moved relatively inwardly and outwardly from pipe 31. In order to provide a variable adjustment of the height of the shoring device, sets of boreholes 41 and 43 are drilled through pipe 39 alternately on a one-quarter turn about the pipe. Similar boreholes 45 and 47 are drilled at the upper end of pipe 39 which match the drilled holes in the side plates 53 of the angle iron 51 at the upper end of the device. Again the holes 53 and 45 are matched and the bolt member passes through the matched holes so as to secure the pipe to the angle iron. As previously stated, a block 57 of material such as hardwood or plastic should be secured to the face plate 49 in order to prevent any damage to the hull.

One method of securing the block to the face plate is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the block is recessed at 61 and a cap screw or the like is passed through the block into a threaded hole in the center of the face plate 49, thus securing the plate and the block together.

When the height of the shoring device is determined the proper holes in the pipe 39 are positioned immediately above the upper end of pipe 31. The holes 67, 69 in the upper ends of braces 63 and 65 are then aligned with the pipe holes and the bolt 71 is passed therethrough and held in place by means of the washer 73 and the cotter pin 75. The bolt 71 protrudes far enough on either side of pipe 39 to bear against the upper edge of the pipe 31, thus maintaining the desired length of the shoring device. The lower ends of the braces 63 and 65 are then located along side of the timber and secured in place by means such as a nail 79 or the like through a hole 77 in the lower end of each brace member.

Turning now to FIG. 4 there is shown a modification of the present invention which may be used to give a finer adjustment. Additionally, many times when a .boat is hauled it has a list either to port or starboard and the adjustment shown in FIG. 4 would enable the straightening out of the hull with a minimum of effort.

In the illustration of FIG. 4 the device is the same as shown in FIG. 2 insofar as the tubular members and the base plate structure are concerned. However, a cap 79, having a central aperture 81 therethrough is placed over the pipe 39. Aperture 81 is large enough to allow a fully threaded bolt 83 to pass therethrough.

A hollow cylinder 87 is secured to the outer end of bolt 83 by means such as welding and a nut is located on the threaded bolt 83 between the cap 79 and the cylinder 87. The free end of bolt 83 passes into tube 39 and cap 79 passes over tube 39.

The cylinder 87 is aligned with the boreholes 91 in the angle iron 89 and a bolt 93 is passed therethrough and held in place by means of a washer 95 and a cotter pin 97. As will be evident, this still permits a pivotal action of the upper part of the shoring device. The angle iron 89 is again secured to an upper face plate 99 by means such as welding and the upper face plate 99 is preferably then secured to a block 102 by means of a screw cap located in the recess 103 and threaded into the borehole 101 of the face plate 99 in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIG. 2.

Thus, in the modification as shown in FIG. 4, there is provided an initial adjustment dependent upon the particular holes used in tube 39 in the manner as described in connection with FIG. 2, plus the further adjustment which may be obtained by rotation of the nut 80 in either direction, thereby moving the threaded bolt 83 upwardly or downwardly as the final adjustment requires.

It is to be understood that certain modifications and substitutions could be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. When the term pipe is usedinlthe presentspecificationit is toflbe understoodthat it refers to. square as well as rouncLcon, figurations, with the basic requirement being, that the smaller pipe is freely movable Within the larger pipe and adjustable to various. positions therein. It is also obvious that various typesof securing devices. could be substituted for the. angle irons and face plates withoutdepartingfrom the scope of, the present. invention; Accordingly,v the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following: claim. I. claim: A- shoring device for. maintaining boat hulls inposition above ground timbers comprising,

a first hollow pipe, means for pivotall'y mounting said first. hollow pipeon ground timbers, a second pipe slidably adjustable to various positions within said firsttpipe, a plurality of boreholes through said second pipe, a removable bolt extending through selected-boreholes and bearing against the end'of saidafirst: pipe-, bracing means secured at one end to said second pipe by said removable bolt. andvsecureriv at the other end to ground timbers,

a cap having a central borehole therethrough over the free end of said second pipe,

a threaded bolt axially'slidable through said borehole in said cap,

-a -nut about said'boltand bearing aga-inst'the outer face of said'cap,

a face plate,

and meansfor pivotally securing. said face plate to the outer. end. of said threaded bolt.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 808,611- 12/05 Miller 2'11184 1,227,105 5/ 1'7' Barnes 248354 11,430,481 9/ 22 Wiepcke 248-354 25 04,291 4750' Alderfer 254-9 8- 2;529,292' 11 /50 Greenfield 248-35 4 2,777,660 1/57 Albrecht 248'3'54 2,9793 04 4/61 Feel 248-3 5 4 3,131,902 5/64 Zak 248-354 3, 139,277 6/ 64 Mears 269-296 25 CLAUDE A; LE RGLY, Primary Examiner. 

